Kubica 'responding well'

Tuesday 8 February 2011 13:46 BST

Robert Kubica

Lotus Renault Formula One driver Robert Kubica is responding well to treatment 48 hours after undergoing surgery.

The Pole is in intensive care in a hospital in Italy two days after undergoing a seven-hour operation to repair multiple fractures in his arm and leg, as well as a partially severed hand. Kubica crashed in Sunday's Ronde di Ancora rally in northern Italy.

Doctor Giorgio Barabino, head of the intensive care unit at Savona's Santa Corona di Pietra Ligure hospital, said: "The patient is responding positively to therapy. He is conscious and his condition is stable."

The 26-year-old will have to wait until the weekend to find out if surgery on his right arm was successful.

Kubica will also have to undergo more surgery to repair damage to his right elbow and shoulder.

An initial estimation from surgeon Professor Mario Igor Rossello, who was involved in the operation to reconstruct Kubica's hand, was that he faced a year out of Formula One, although Lotus Renault team principal Eric Boullier later expressed hope of a quicker return.

The new F1 season gets under way in Bahrain on March 13 and the team have a choice to make as to whether they turn to one of their reserve drivers to fill the void alongside Russia's Vitaly Petrov.

Bruno Senna, who raced for Hispania last year, and Romain Grosjean, who contested seven grands prix for Renault in 2009, are the men in the frame, although the team may yet seek a more experienced head, with both Nick Heidfeld and Vitantonio Liuzzi - both of whom are without a drive in 2011 - likely candidates.

Liuzzi, though, said after visiting the Santa Corona hospital: "A lot of people talked about this: not the team, but a lot of journalists. Personally, at the moment I think Robert's health is the first thing.

"Then, it's obvious that when Renault are sure that Robert won't be able to step in the car, this chance might be open and I hope to be chosen instead of somebody else. But, again, at the moment Robert's health is the priority."